Ore processor

ABSTRACT

The processor of this invention is comprised of a vibrating table which vibrates back and forth along the direction that the ore is to travel, and a plurality of radiant heaters positioned along the length of the table and forming a substantially vaportight chamber therewith, along with a means for feeding ore uniformly onto one end of the table and for extracting the ore vapor positioned at the other end of the table.

United States Patent 1,199,962 10/1916 Borson Inventor Gilbert R. Moore 14452 Wildeve Lane, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705 Appl. No. 861,909 Filed Sept. 29, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 ORE PROCESSOR 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl .1 266/20, 75/1 Int. Cl F27b 21/00 Field of Search 266/20, 21, l5,l6;75/1, 3, 5, 81

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,939,695 6/1960 Gates 3,391,916 7/1968 Fisher 266/18 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,114,909 4/1956 France 266/20 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Alt0rneyEdward Dugas ABSTRACT: The processor of this invention is comprised of a vibrating table which vibrates back and forth along the direction that the ore is to travel, and a plurality of radiant heaters positioned along the length of the table and forming a substantially vaportight chamber therewith, along with a means for feeding ore uniformly onto one end of the table and for extracting the ore vapor positioned at the other end of the table.

PATENTED um 5:91:

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVE'NT OR 67BEF7 A. #0085 PATENTEUDCT 51971 3510598 sum 3 OF 3 INV ENT OR G'ZABEAT 1e. 4/0025 ATTORNEY ORE PROCESSOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The processing of ores such as cinnabar has in the past created numerous problems. One problem associated with such processing is the fact that the mercury gas and mist leaks from the kiln. When brick and masonry structures were used, it was found that the furnaces became saturated with liquid mercury. Iron shields were used to prevent this but proved to be unsatisfactory.

The sizes of these kilns were quite large, making them also quite expensive. The amount of heat necessary to operate the kiln effectively was also excessive because not only did the ore have to be heated, but also the bricks used in the kiln. In most cases, the heat used was not directly applied to the ore, but was applied through the walls of the kiln. Some kilns used flaming gas which would heat the ore unevenly due to air and gas currents being created in the kiln.

As mentioned previously, the size and weight of these kilns made them far from portable. If a kiln were able to do the job efficiently and also be portable, it would allow substantial savings to be realized in the cost of the final product as well as savings in transportation costs.

One of the heavier kilns is shown in US. Pat. No. 1,535 ,467, entitled Process of Extracting Mercury from Cinnabar" by E. E. Hedges. In that patent, the standard cylindershaped kiln is rotated about its longitudinal axis with gas burners fixed along its length for heating, not only the ore, but also the kiln. Another large rotary kiln for processing mercury ore is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,348,673, entitled Rotary Kiln for Extraction of Mercury from its Ores" by C. F. Degner. The kiln of that patent uses a cylinder of stainless steel which is rotated about its longitudinal axis and gas-type burners which heat the kiln and the ore inside the kiln.

Another patent of interest which does away with the rotary kiln is US. Pat. No. 1,447,883, Process of and Apparatus for Heating Materials, by C. 1. Reed. In the apparatus of that patent, a spiraling helixtype screw advances the ore along the length of a nonrotating cylinder. External heating is still used to heat the ore through the cylinder.

A patent which utilizes oscillating surfaces is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,939,695, entitled Ore Roasting Furnace, by P. G. Gates. In that patent, a number of inclined surfaces are oscillated about a longitudinal axis such that the ore proceeds down the inclined surfaces. Below the bottom of the last inclined surface, heaters are positioned to heat the ore. Again the heaters are external to the ore.

From the description of the prior art, it can be seen that there exists a need for an ore processor which can also handle mercury ore, which processor is portable, low in cost, and which heats the ore directly, thereby minimizing the energy needed to process the ore. Applicants invention is just such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a vibrating table which vibrates in the same direction as the ore mover is used to uniformly move the ore over a preselected distance. Radiant heaters are positioned above the table at a controllable height and form a substantially airtight chamber with the table. Means are provided at one end of the table to feed ore onto the table. A vapor recovery means and condenser are attached to the opposite end of the table to recover the vapor emitted by the ore. The processed ore is then dropped off of the end of the table and out of the formed processing chamber.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable, inexpensive ore processor.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ore processor wherein the heat is applied directly to the ore.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ore processor which uniformly distributes the ore to a desired thickness for more uniform heating.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an ore processor which may be used with ores having volatile constituents.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an ore processor having a minimum number of operating parts.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent and better understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, throughout which like characters indicate like parts and which drawings form a part of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation and partially in section of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectioned view taken along the sectioning lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vibrating table I0 is shown comprised of an outer stainless steel body 12 and an inner body 13 on which the ore 23 is moved. Between body I2 and 13 is a layer of high4emperature insulating material I4. Such insulating material may be a type manufactured by Owens- Corning Fiberglass Corporation under the trade name Kaylo and Kaylo 20. The insulating material is a rigid column silicate which is reinforced with asbestos fibers. Kaylo" can be used in applications up to l,200 F. and Kaylo 20" in applications up to 1,800 F. The table is supported on at least four spring legs I5 which are in turn mounted to a frame 16. The frame 16 may be tilted slightly in order to speed the movement of the ore on the table surface. A motor 40 vibrates table 10 through a flywheel pullcy 42, driven by belt 41, and having a shaft 43 mounted off center on pulley 42. Shaft 43 is connected to the outer steel table body 12 by means of an angle iron 44. As pulley 42 is rotated by motor 40, the table is driven back and forth along its longitudinal axis. The ore 23 on the surface spreads out evenly and moves along at a rate determined by the frequency of the back-andJorth movement of the table. The ore is fedl to the table by a hopper 45 and a chute 46 affixed to one end of the table. Two radiantheating assemblies 20 and 44 are positioned along the length of the table and supported therefrom by vertical burner supports 17 and crossmembers 18. A gas-operated infrared heater which may be used with the invention is manufactured by SOLARONICS, Inc. of Richmond, Va., under the trade name SOLARONICS. The units operate at approximately l,700 F. Electric infrared heaters which may be used with the invention are manufactured by Aitken Products, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio. Adjusting screws 22, connected to turnbuckles 21,

. which in turn are connected to U-shaped support brackets 24 which are in turn connected to the heating assemblies 20, supporting the assemblies above the ore. Each heating assembly has at least one infrared heater 3], having heating elements and insulated from the atmosphere with insulation 14. The radiant-heating assemblies and table form a substantially airtight chamber 50 through which the ore is processed. Adjusting screws 22 control the height of the heating assembly above the vibrating table 10 and ore 23.

The ore vapors are removed from chamber 50 by ducting 34 connected to one end of the table, and a fan 35 which maintains the pressure in chamber 50 at less than atmospheric pres balanced door 41 which fits into a discharge chute 40. The door is balanced to remain closed to help maintain the subatmospheric pressure in chamber 50, but swings open just enough to let the processed ore 43 fall from the chamber. The ore can then be handled in a manner well known to those persons skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 3; as the heating assemblies 20 are moved up and down, the integrity of the chamber 50 must be maintained. This is accomplished by using a flexible high-temperature cloth 30 as a coupling between channel 25 and the inner and outer steel bodies 12 and 13. A material which will withstand the temperatures involved is manufactured by the HlTCO Corporation of Gardena, Cal., under the trade name of REFRASlL." Cloth made of REFRASIL material can withstand temperatures greater than 1,800 F. The cloth 30 may be attached to arm 25 and to an L-shaped member 28 by means of stainless steel fasteners 34 and 32 respectively in order to withstand the elevated temperatures involved. The L- shpaed member may be sandwiched between the inner and outer body 12 and 13 and fastened in place with stainless steel bolts 29. Although the U-shaped support brackets 24 may be made in one piece which includes the arm 25 and the flange 19, a two-piece section is shown for purposes of example. Anywhere where two surfaces of stainless steel metal have to be joined, an airtight seal can be achieved by using an insulating material 26, which may be a ceramic fiber such as the type manufactured by Babcock & Wilcox under the trade name KAOWOOL. This material can withstand continuous temperatures of 2,300 F. The material 26 may be sandwiched between the joined surfaces and held in place with stainless steel bolts or rivets.

Referring now to FIG. 4 wherein the one inlet is shown in an enlarged view. The chute 46 is slanted at a 50 angle from the horizon to give a proper distribution to the ore. A counterbalanced door 47 extends across the opening of the chute and is balanced normally closed by the adjustable weight 48. A ramp 51 with ridges $2 projecting therefrom extends past chute 46 to agitate the ore 23 passing over its surface and to deposit the ore onto an identical ramp 49 which is positioned perpendicular to ramp 51. The ore is thus agitated and distributed somewhat evenly on the inner floor 13 of table 10. The counterbalanced door 47 helps to maintain the pressure in chamber 50 subatmospheric while still allowing ore to enter the chamber. Other feed devices such as a helix feed screw may be used with the invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

lclaim:

l. A material processor comprising in combination:

a. a vibrating table for moving material in a uniform manner along a selected direction and predetermined distance,

having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end;

b. radiant heaters forming a relatively vaportight chamber with said vibrating table for heating said material and causing desired portions of said material to vaporize, said heater positioned along the length of said vibrating table;

c. means for feeding said material onto said vibrating table thru said inlet; and

d. vacuum means for recovering the material vapor connected to the outlet end of said formed chamber so as to remove vapors from said vaportight chamber while maintaining said chamber at a negative-pressure with respect to the pressure outside of said chamber.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising means responsive to said recovery means for condensing the material vapor.

3. The invention according to claim 1 for adjusting the speed at which said table is vibrated so as to control the speed at which the material moves along said table.

4. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising means for adjusting the height of said radiant heaters above the surface of the vibrating table so as to control the amount of heat transferred to the material. 

1. A material processor comprising in combination: a. a vibrating table for moving material in a uniform manner along a selected direction and predetermined distance, having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; b. radiant heaters forming a relatively vaportight chamber with said vibrating table for heating said material anD causing desired portions of said material to vaporize, said heater positioned along the length of said vibrating table; c. means for feeding said material onto said vibrating table thru said inlet; and d. vacuum means for recovering the material vapor connected to the outlet end of said formed chamber so as to remove vapors from said vaportight chamber while maintaining said chamber at a negative-pressure with respect to the pressure outside of said chamber.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising means responsive to said recovery means for condensing the material vapor.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 for adjusting the speed at which said table is vibrated so as to control the speed at which the material moves along said table.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising means for adjusting the height of said radiant heaters above the surface of the vibrating table so as to control the amount of heat transferred to the material. 